Brittany Howard has learned the ropes, and is now coaching in a development role, helping young girls chase the dream she's living.

On the ice, Brittany Howard has become a well respected goal scorer at the NCAA and professional levels. Howard has also become a top development coach, guiding young players and pros in their skill development.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Howard, who was playing in the PWHPA at the time, dove headfirst into coaching, working with youth clubs in the Toronto area in Mississauga, Etobicoke, and North York. 

"I'd be brought out to run a practice, but it became a weekly thing and that's how the ball really got rolling," said Howard of those early opportunities.

A teacher by trade from her education at Robert Morris University, Howard started learning the ropes of hockey development coaching working under Mike Ellis, a development coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Mark Voakes, who works in player development with the New Jersey Devils. 

"Working with Mike Ellis and Mark Voakes, it was a great way to be on the ice more and develop as a player myself, but also to learn the finer points of the game," said Howard. "They helped me develop my playing style, and that's what really got me into the coaching piece." 

Howard has spent ten years working with those individuals, but has more recently also started her own program, Howard Hockey Development. The past two years, Howard has worked with young players, bringing teams of girls to play in tournaments in Toronto, and at the Beantown Tournament in Boston, where this year her Howard Hockey team played in the 2008 division.

Howard has learned on the ice, and also off, completing a scouting internship with the NHL's Arizona Coyotes, which was an experience Howard says helped her see the game from a different vantage.

"That internship allowed me to step into a different role and see what coaches and scouts, and management personnel do in an organization," she said. "It helped me see the game as a viewer, not just a participant, and that's helped develop my own game, but also help me in coaching as well."

Last season, Howard won an Isobel Cup championship with the PHF's Toronto Six where she scored 16 goals and 26 points in 20 games. The PHF all-star had signed this offseason to join the Boston Pride before the league was acquired. As a coach, she's excited to help youth reach for their goals. As a player, Howard is now excited to chase her own goals in the new professional women's hockey league alongside former teammates from both the PWHPA and PHF.

"I'm super excited to get ready for the new league and make an impact come January when the new league starts," Howard said. 

"I have friends in both leagues and I'm super excited to get back on the ice with them. Some of my past teammates have sent me a few messages, it's all on a positive note, and we're excited to get rolling."

The new professional women's hockey league is slated to drop the puck for an inaugural season in January 2024.